Pull Up...... Pull Up......

Hi there

So you are wondering - what is Pull up.... Pull up (other than a command on an aircraft that is not going up!). My numbers sucked today. Came close to not having the chemo. My white count was 0.6 - 0.5 is a no go for chemo. Red count was 93. Platelets were down to 129. So need to find out how to get the numbers up instead of down.

Andrea was my nurse today and she explained what the two options were. One was to talk to the oncologist and see if he would give the ok for the chemo at a reduced dosage. The other was to postpone chemo will next week. Dr. P is still on holidays. Dr. Johal is also on holidays. So, Dr. Theresa Chan was the oncologist who gave the go ahead for the chemo - 75% of the 75% dosage I was. And I won't go back to the original 100% or the 75%. So there was a lot of wait time between getting the req ok'd and signed by the doctor, the file coming back and the req going to pharmacy. Then I could take my anti-nausea meds. The req did make it to pharmacy - and I was hooked up to the pre-meds I have to take. And then we waited and waited - Andrea gave them a call and they couldn't find it - they were looking for the entire file. So, the file had to go down to pharmacy. Donna ran it next door and about 15 minutes later it arrived - guess better late the never. I only had the Gemcitabine today, the Cardoplatin is only on day 1 of the treatment not on day 8. Everything then went smoothly.

I go and see Dr. Tollas on Sept 9 (Gary is away still) and lab-work and chemo on September 10 and then again on September 17.

With my count being as low as it is, have to be careful of course of fevers - so far have been good. And of course trying to stay away from people who are sick.

Brian asked why they just don't pound me with antibiotics when my count goes down. And of course they don't like doing that - you may not have an infection just poor counts and if you start giving every patient who has low counts the drugs, they become immune to them. So it is a wait and see game.

Before we went to the Cancer Clinic, Brian, Meghan, Ryan and myself went to the Township of Langely Firehall - Doug is Brian's brother and is the Fire Chief. Ryan liked this, he got to go into two of the firetrucks and a rescue vehicle. Opened three of the hall doors - once he opened one, it was "open another one!!". He connected with Uncle Doug which was great. And we met Captain Brian Ulle - Ryan liked him. He turned on the lights on one of the trucks and got ladders down by pushing a button and then back up onto the truck again - Ryan said "ladder backing up" as it had the sound of a truck backing up. He got lots of stuff from Captain Brian - two hats, stickers, pencils, colouring books, tattoos, pins. He was a happy camper! And as we walked back to the cars, he took Uncle Doug's finger and held onto it - with his tight little grip and then gave Doug a hug goodbye.


Think that it about it....... more later....

Roni


Andrea and myself

Fire Training Officer Ryan!

Inside the fire rescue vehicle

Baby News

Hi there

Well, here is some fun news rather than medical news!!

I went this morning with Meghan, Corey and Ryan when they were to have the 3D Ultrasound. They wanted to make sure a healthy baby and of course to find out what they were having. Well, this baby was sleeping and planned on staying asleep as long as possible. Had their legs together and was holding one foot with the hand. Wasn't showing anything!

Well with some work from the technician - ie wake up the baby - Meghan and Corey's little boy Ryan - already knew what they were having. A baby sister! And so, they are having a little girl - and already she is cute!!! Ok, so I am a little biased,but she had chubby little cheeks and one heck of a heart beat - nice and fast. Could see her spine and ribs, and her toes and fingers - very awesome!

So, little Ryan will have his work cut out for him, protecting his little sister once she is a wee bit older.

We will all meet her in 10 weeks and everyone is so excited.

Roni (aka Gammie)

Busy Week

Chemo #15

Not sure what I was doing here when Patrick took the picture!!! Think I was talking to the new patient.

It has been a busy week medical wise!!! And heat wise - the heat wave has hit again. But no one had better complain!! We had a wee bit of rain last week and some cooler and much appreciated temperatures. Though the PNE starts on Saturday and that could mean a change in the weather!!! I am going Monday or Tuesday with Meghan and Ryan - thinking more Tuesday -as VanCity members and one guest get in for $5 - so that saves $20! I like that!

Monday, Brian and I both had an appointment to see our family doctor. By the time we got out of there, we had 6 Rx between us plus I had one waiting at the pharmacy I had called in earlier - so 7 in total! Thank goodness we have insurance and BC Pharmacare or these would have cost us close to $600!!! In the end $34.

Tuesday, it was time to see Dr. Pansegrau. Nothing out of the ordinary with this visit. The liver is looking ok - harder to see of course with an ultrasound, but keeping in line with my tumour markers. He has said that I will be having the pre-meds before each chemo session so as not to have the allergic reaction with the eye again - so that will add about half an hour to the session -but that is better than having a reaction. I did forget to tell him about the ringing in the left ear which is now constant and a bit of ringing in the right ear which comes and goes. Will have to write it down for when I see him in three weeks. I will be having a CT scan before cycle 4 to see how this set of drugs is working and more than likely an ultra sound of the liver as well.

Relaxing after the premeds - they made me sleepy and cold this time.

Patrick came today for my chemo appointment as he may be gone shortly to join the Armed Forces. At least with me having the port in, he will be ok - he hates needles!!! I didn't make him come into the room where they put it in! And Meghan stopped by to say hello.

Patrick and I.......

I had Julie today - and she was quite nice and not quite as chatty as the other gals but a very good nurse. I mentioned it to her that I had forgotten to tell Dr. P about the ringing in the ears. She asked how bad it was, and Leslie picked up on it as well. Told her it is 24/7 in my left and about half that in the right. She called Dr. Johal (Dr. P is on holidays) and he changed one of the chemo drugs - took me off the Cisplatin and put me on a sort of sister drug to it - Carboplatin which has very few side effects - wahooo. So that took a while to sort out, the file had to go down to him and he had to physically change it and then the file went to pharmacy and eventually it came back to the chemo room. Once that was all settled, then Julie started me on the pre-meds for allergies and that takes about 25 minutes - then had to wait about 20 minutes after it finished to get it through my system. Then started my two chemo drugs. At one point, when Julie was at lunch, I asked Leslie what my numbers were. The red count was good 131 but my white count - I just about didn't get the chemo done - I was 1.0 - so now I have t be very careful with my health and checking my temp more often. Don't want to end up in the hospital. My chemo drugs are already at 75% because of the allergic reactions. And ya know, twice in hospital in a year is enough!!

Julie and I
People keep asking me how I am so upbeat all of the time. For the most part, I am, but there are times when I am down - I usually try and not show it. My friend "Pink Lady" asked me about it the other day and what about the depression. It is there, it is hard not to have it. There are the meds I take and they do help. When I am not as spunky as I normally am, I will be reading - more than usual - and will just find a place and read. And if it is a good book, then it is finished quickly! Or I just go very quiet. I find night time is the worst - when I go to bed, more so after I have had tests done - it is the what if factor that kicks in. And there is nothing you can do about that - it is there and in your head.

My hair started to come back and now it has stopped growing again - and it comes out hair by hair - it won't all go, just thin out. And I don't like it - I want my hair back and my eyebrows (they are sort of there, but blonde) and the eye lashes (same they are there but thin and light - and damn it I need a 7x mirror to put on mascara!!!). I know, greedy aren't I!! I really want to know what the final colour and texture will be in the end!!! Any wagers?? And damn it, have to shave again!!!

I have been on chemo for a year now - give or take a few weeks. I thought I would be back at work in August. Now it is looking like at least next year. 2010 - seems like such a long time. I miss working and I miss the people contact. And I would not be honest in that I miss the money!!! And my train friends! Morning and afternoon ones!

Well that is it until next Thursday when I have my next chemo appointment. It should go a lot faster - the regular time which should be about 90 minutes!!

Caio and feel free to leave a comment - I love to get them and read them.... and I have changed it so that you don't have to put in the "verification words" - so that should make it a bit easier.

Roni

Whoops - I did it again!!!

Hi Everyone!

Aren't you glad that our heat wave has gone and back to our normal summer weather? I know I am!!!

My IV Tech - hiding behind her mask - she was great

Waiting for the alcohol to dry

Putting in the iv - it really doesn't hurt!

Just doing the saline flush

Another chemo day!! Went to the ambulatory day care to get my paperwork and ID bracelet – I am not in the system – seems the gal that booked me previously did it wrong and assumed that I was going to the regular lab. But Megan was there and she knows me, so she got the paperwork faxed and sent me over to Medical Day Care. There are more pictures of that today – as never took the camera before and no one came with me!!! So it shows the room where it is done – part office, part supply room, part procedure room! Once they move into the new building will be much nicer!

Putting in the clotting agent - twice this time!

Well, I managed to do it again this week! Yup – another reaction – and yes, the same one and almost at the same time as last weeks!! Leslie was my nurse today along with Erin who is brand new. We had discussed some of what has been happening to me over the last week – ie the side effects. And with some of them, to take meds earlier rather than later – which does make sense. They were quite concerned over the ringing in the ears, which is a major one – I had some but nothing to worry about but had had blocked ears. Leslie said that if I was to get the ringing big time, they might have to change the drugs that I am on – but it a wait and see basis!

Tina came with me today – former co-worker and good friend. We had a lot of fun with all of the nurses – and I am meaning ALL – they all come at one point at the same time – ok, they were laughing!!! And I know she was not bored at all!

They started with the Gemcitabine – which takes about 30 minutes to go though the IV – in theory! Leslie would walk by me and check to ensure that nothing was happening. I was chatting with a new patient and her daughter as well as Tina.

When Tina mentions that my eye looks a little puffy… oh great, not again! And it appeared as quickly as last week. And it was getting itchy. Leslie happened to look and came right over, and shut off the medication and instantly put in the benadryl. She then called Dr P and he laughed – was so funny… she told him I had been waiting for him since last week and I was hungry and cranky from the long wait!!! He then told her to give me the hydrocortisone via the IV. That takes a bit to make up and then she connected me. We had a very good laugh – every single nurse came over – you aren’t supposed to get this type of reaction and not two weeks in a row and not at the almost same time!!! My file now has two HOT pink stickers on the cover and in the file – allergic reactions. From now on, will have the pre-meds done before the chemo starts!!

Once the bag was empty and she let me sit for a bit, then Leslie started up the medication and it finished – and then did the Cisplatin – which is a more powerful and strong drug – and it does nothing!!

By the time all was done and finished, it was almost 6 by the time we got out of there – and we headed to Central City Pub for a pint and some dinner and just a good chat!!

Next appointments are Monday August 10 at 8am – Surrey Memorial Hospital for the liver ultrasound. August 18 at 9:00 – Dr. Pansegrau. August 20 – Medical Day Care and Cancer Clinic – blood work and chemo. August 27 - Medical Day Care and Cancer Clinic – blood work and chemo. Times to be determined.

Leslie and Erin